Michigan woman may face felony DUI for having kids in car

By Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Felony DUI on Monday, May 13, 2013.

Drunk driving can often come with harsh penalties for many Michigan residents. From lengthy jail sentences to hefty fines, a DUI conviction is no walk in the park. Many offenders will continue to find consequences even after a sentence has been served. Having a DUI on one's record doesn't look the best when an offender is attempting to get a job. One Michigan woman has recently received attention for drunk driving charges including a felony DUI.

The incident occurred last week after police conducted speed enforcement on Interstate 75. A car zipped past police going 16 miles over the speed limit. Police began the pursuit to pull the driver over. The driver was a 33-year-old woman who was driving with four minors when police pulled her over. After performing a breathalyzer test, the woman had a blood alcohol content of .17, over twice Michigan's legal limit of .08. The woman was charged with her second DUI offense as well as operating while intoxicated with a child less than 16 in the vehicle.

In the state of Michigan, having previous DUI offenses on one's record can lead to felony charges. Felony DUI can usually yield very serious penalties including longer jail time, mandatory chemical dependency classes and license suspension among others. There are many factors that can lead to a felony DUI. For example, if children are present in the vehicle or if an individual causes death or serious injury to others, they may wind up with a felony DUI.

The state of Michigan can often be very strict when it comes to DUI's. Many residents have struggled even after serving their DUI conviction. Having a DUI or felony DUI on one's record can be devastating. Under Heidi's law, DUI convictions can last well after 10 years on one's record. An experienced DUI attorney can employ many strategies to successfully defend against these charges in court.

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I regularly represent clients throughout Washtenaw County, Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Saline, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Manchester, Dexter, Barton Hills, Milan, Pittsfield Township, Scio Township, Willow Run and Superior Township. Courts covered include: 15th District Court; 14A-1, 14A-2, 14A-3, and 14A-4 District Courts; 14B District Court and Washtenaw County Circuit Court. I also represent clients in 35th District Court for Plymouth/Canton cases as well as 34th District Court in Romulus for cases in Romulus and Van Buren Township.